The Sentinel Users Preparation (SUP) initiative is part of ESA’s FutureEO programme within the Earth Observation Programmes Directorate. It helps Europe prepare for the future Copernicus Sentinel Expansion and Next Generation missions by building expertise, exploring new science, testing new methods, and supporting the uptake of new Earth observation data and information products.

SUP coordinates a set of developments to ensure that European entities are optimally positioned to exploit the opportunities offered by the future Copernicus Sentinel Expansion and Next Generation missions. These activities aim to consolidate the scientific basis for key algorithms, enabling the effective and credible generation of user-defined information products from new data sources, while also strengthening expertise across European research and downstream industry sectors in relation to new instruments and their exploitation. In addition, SUP supports the development of a pre-operational and pre-commercial portfolio of applications and services, ensuring that European companies are well placed to enter the market early and capitalize on emerging opportunities, including export potential. A further objective is to stimulate user and stakeholder readiness, facilitating the rapid uptake of derived information products within operational environments. The activities are prepared in consultation with the Copernicus Entrusted Entities, and national and international stakeholders, contributing broadly to scientific, policy, and industrial competitiveness objectives within the EO ecosystem.